Self-Injury Support Group
Whether you or someone you know or love struggles with self-injury, this is the community to discuss your experience, find support, meet others going through the same, and get advice on how to stop. Working together, we can help find alternative coping skills to reduce the urge to self-harm.
I just started therapy, and we have been talking about a lot of things that happened when I was little involving my mother. It was nothing horrific, but there are some painful memories that we were discussing. Anyway, a few days after leaving therapy each week I feel progressively worse. I feel like I need to punish myself for being upset with my mother, and for telling my T things that my family probably wouldn't have liked me to tell her. It is very uncomfortable, and lately I have been using SI as a punishment.
The difficulty is, I am finding some positive coping mechanisms, so I am better able to stop SI when I am doing it for tension relieving reasons. However, when I use it for punishment it seems harder. If I do other things it feels like I am being good to myself and evading punishment that I deserve. I know it is good to be kind to yourself, but when I am in punishment mode it doesn't seem like that is what I should be doing.
I am planning on talking to my T about this when I next see her, but that is over a week from now and I need some more ways to cope between now and then. I would appreciate your comments and suggestions. Thank you!
The difficulty is, I am finding some positive coping mechanisms, so I am better able to stop SI when I am doing it for tension relieving reasons. However, when I use it for punishment it seems harder. If I do other things it feels like I am being good to myself and evading punishment that I deserve. I know it is good to be kind to yourself, but when I am in punishment mode it doesn't seem like that is what I should be doing.
I am planning on talking to my T about this when I next see her, but that is over a week from now and I need some more ways to cope between now and then. I would appreciate your comments and suggestions. Thank you!
You shouldn't feel bad for telling your therapist things. These are obviously issues you still struggle with and you are in the right place to talk about that stuff.
I have issues with my mum too from my childhood, it's the same as you, nothing horrific just things i still can't get past.
How about distraction? I know i always say that, and i say that because it works.
Also positive self talk. When you are feeling like you need to punish yourself, stop and tell yourself it's not your fault. Maybe sit on your bed and do some deep breaths in and out and just tell yourself that it's not your fault and you don't have to cut. This has worked for me before.
Once you tell your therapist about cutting to punish yourself then she will be able to help you in regards to your thoughts and how to change things around so you don't feel so guilty.
Hang in there for a week, i understand it must be very difficult for you, i am here if you wanna talk.